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Darling city

PostPosted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 10:24 pm
by cataclyzm
It really breaks my heart to see how much of Glasgow they took from us.
The diaspora from victoriana to the concrete towers.

We may not all have had indoor toilets but we did have one another. We had all that sandstone and a graceful sense of belonging. Those things can never be rebuilt.

I often wonder how many people really know the scale of what they took from Glasgow. Places that are now so empty where there was once so much life and joy. How much of a great city they laid bare.

There is a future and there has to be hope but it breaks my heart when I think of how Glasgow has changed. The streets of the city run through my heart and soul and those of many others. I'm sure i'm not the only person who remembers Bridgeton; Springburn; Finnieston; Townhead; Govan; Oatlands et al. Believe it or not; they were just like the west end and often nicer.

I just wish I had been old enough to stop the destruction. But I was only 10 when most of it happened.

They will never know what they took from us. Hope, maybe. But we are fighters. *(springburn/Bridgeton)

Robert Kelly.

Re: Darling city

PostPosted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 12:14 am
by John
cataclyzm wrote:It really breaks my heart to see how much of Glasgow they took from us.
The diaspora from victoriana to the concrete towers.

We may not all have had indoor toilets but we did have one another. We had all that sandstone and a graceful sense of belonging. Those things can never be rebuilt.

I often wonder how many people really know the scale of what they took from Glasgow. Places that are now so empty where there was once so much life and joy. How much of a great city they laid bare.

There is a future and there has to be hope but it breaks my heart when I think of how Glasgow has changed. The streets of the city run through my heart and soul and those of many others. I'm sure i'm not the only person who remembers Bridgeton; Springburn; Finnieston; Townhead; Govan; Oatlands et al. Believe it or not; they were just like the west end and often nicer.

I just wish I had been old enough to stop the destruction. But I was only 10 when most of it happened.

They will never know what they took from us. Hope, maybe. But we are fighters. *(springburn/Bridgeton)

Robert Kelly.


Well said. Sadly the railway and the car have swept away so much that would have been of interest today.

the car indeed

PostPosted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 5:01 pm
by cataclyzm
Yes,

The car did a lot of damage along with the flyover. But it doesn't explain the sheer scale of what went on in the 60/70/80's. It really took them that long to see through the demolition of vast areas of the city that weren't always touched by the motorway. The whole thing was on an unprecedented scale.

It surprises me that something so vast has slipped under the radar to an extent. I think that it is a wound many of us don't want to look at. I know I feel this way and if I think about it too long, I know it isn't healthy. There are times when I think to myself - did that place actually exist? Did those people really live where there is now no evidence of endless streets of tenements and public baths/libraries/schools. Communities really.

I think a few of us older ones (I'm 38 now) can remember the streets of empty tenements awaiting demolition. If only we had known then what was really happening.

I sometimes think that a kindness went with those places. A gentle consideration of one another that I do remember. Something came and stole it.

But i know there are positive stories and new beginnings. We have to think of kids growing up now and give them the best we can. Give them what perhaps what was taken from us, if we can find it.

all the best
Robert.

PostPosted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 12:31 pm
by Fat Cat
GCC are still at it today. Building over green spaces, knocking down buildings for this M74 thing. When will they get it into their thick heads that restoration rather than demolition is much better.

definitely

PostPosted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 1:42 pm
by cataclyzm
hi,

Being out of glasgow I've missed the whole M70 thing. One thing I do know is that the last remaining part of Oatlands was demolished to make way for it (am i right?). My cousin used to live there and they were great hooses.

If you look at images on virtual mitchell library of Oatlands (i think there are only 2) you can see the kind of granduer that existed in the east end. The Curved bay windows of the rather grand tenements looked over richmond park at Oatlands but of course - all gone.

I knew Bridgeton very well and the stunning buildings that lived along Greenhead street and main street. Well: I could go on because I also knew Springburn very well as a kid.

It sounds like they are still at it. I don't have any faith in politicians or so called "democracy". Ironic really : that they achieved what Hitler probably envisaged.

I'll have to look at the M70 on google (if it's on it) and see what they've been up to.

all the best
Robert.

Re: definitely

PostPosted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 3:02 pm
by John
cataclyzm wrote:hi,

Being out of glasgow I've missed the whole M70 thing. One thing I do know is that the last remaining part of Oatlands was demolished to make way for it (am i right?). My cousin used to live there and they were great hooses.

If you look at images on virtual mitchell library of Oatlands (i think there are only 2) you can see the kind of granduer that existed in the east end. The Curved bay windows of the rather grand tenements looked over richmond park at Oatlands but of course - all gone.

I knew Bridgeton very well and the stunning buildings that lived along Greenhead street and main street. Well: I could go on because I also knew Springburn very well as a kid.

It sounds like they are still at it. I don't have any faith in politicians or so called "democracy". Ironic really : that they achieved what Hitler probably envisaged.

I'll have to look at the M70 on google (if it's on it) and see what they've been up to.

all the best
Robert.


No need to google just read this HG thread which has lots of pics including some good ones of Oatlands.

http://www.hiddenglasgow.com/forums/vie ... php?t=4893

Cheers

W

great stuff

PostPosted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 4:13 pm
by cataclyzm
Thanks for that link waldbass.

Is Farme cross now gone then?

It would be interesting (but sad) to make a catalogue of all the victorian/edwardian buildings that were destroyed for the M70.

Really: they just wouldn't get away with that kind of thing in the west end would they? Who knows.

They did the same with the rather sublime Townhead library that we used to go to as kids. It was like walking into a palace.

I went to look at a couple of years ago on a visit back to Glasgow and it was boarded up - the next month I came back with my camera and the library was gone. When I contacted someone at the council he actually said to me: "well, it wasn't a very interesting building anyway". I kid you not. The flyover of the M8 had made it an anachronism but I know that building meant a lot to many people. Architecturally: it was Scottish classicism in simple and pure form - statues of charity ( I think) out at the front in niches above pillasters.

So: I'm fast running out of my cultural identity and sense of place. But: I'm sure I'm not alone.

I think because these communities were disseminated in the 60/70/80's - there is no collective clout to act. The spirit isn't strong in places that are carved up and whose sense of purpose has been removed.

all the best
Robert.

Re: great stuff

PostPosted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 6:14 pm
by My Kitten
cataclyzm wrote: the M70.


The development is the M74 and not the M70.

errr

PostPosted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 8:50 pm
by cataclyzm
well

I don't live in Glasgow presently - so I don't have the luxury of the local information you may have.

But thank you for your kind correction

all the best
Robert.

PostPosted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 10:26 pm
by HollowHorn
Haw John, does Alex P know that you are using his fizzer for your latest avatar? ::):

PostPosted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 11:09 pm
by Fossil
HollowHorn wrote:Haw John, does Alex P know that you are using his fizzer for your latest avatar? ::):


::): well spotted